A Race to Freedom
The Mira Slovak Story
It's fucking incredible.
In the 1950s, Slovak was a pilot for Czechoslovakia Airlines. During a scheduled flight, he overtook his co-pilot and flew the plane below radar detection all the way to West Germany where he asked for asylum from his oppressive communist country. It was granted, and he made his way to America where he eventually entered the unlimited hydroplane scene.
He was high point champ numerous times, and he won the Gold Cup in 1966.
In 2009, at the age of 81, he drove an exact replica of one of the hydros he had raced in the 50s and 60s. He was told to keep it below 90 mph. He opened it up to 140 mph on the backstretch.
I'm probably biased because I grew up around hydros, but it's an outstanding read and I think anyone would love it.
View: https://www.amazon.com/Race-Freedom-Mira-Slovak-Story/dp/1625450664